Lighting for Occupants, Not Footcandles

Medical professionals understand concepts like seasonal effective disorder and circadian rhythms; however, far too few building designers understand the role that their decisions have on these and other medical issues. Lighting has the ability to contribute a significant positive impact on occupant productivity and efficiency; however, lighting also has the ability to create or amplify certain physical conditions and disorders. This presentation will look at the importance of the human element when it comes to making design decisions related to quality and quantity of lighting.

Attendees will recognize how merely illuminating a space based upon footcandle criteria does not focus on the health and wellbeing of the building’s occupants.

Attendees will explore the use of color and color temperature on occupants, how they effect a person’s alertness, and ultimately on how lighting can impact a person’s circadian rhythm.

Attendees will recognize the various natural and artificial lighting approaches – natural lighting, daylight harvesting, light source selection – and how these alternatives impact mood and can lead to medical conditions like seasonal effective disorder and circadian rhythm disorder.

Presenter: Craig G. Malesic, PMP, LC, EIT. Craig is the former owner of a lighting design and electrical construction firm. He holds the Lighting Certified (LC) designation from the National Council on Qualifications for the Lighting Profession (NCQLP) as well as the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI).

This program qualifies for 1.0 AIA LU/HSW. Format: Course led by instructor in-person.